For yet another Easter, the Hellenic Relief Foundation together with their partner organization in Athens ΕΛΕΣΘΥ, ensured that beneficiaries of the monthly distributions had all the basics for the Easter holiday table.The Social Committee of the Athenian Society in Greece was also a significant contributor. Starting on Holy Tuesday, the distribution of packages began containing the usual basic food items, as well as lamb, eggs, tsourekia, and sodas to organizations, foundations, and some 350 beneficiary families and individuals. Among the beneficiary organizations were the Mutual Assistance Fund of the Association of Greek Actors (ΤΑΣΕΗ), and the Meropeio Nursing Home of Athens, along with their care wing for elderly women. By Holy Wednesday, the distribution out of the organization’s headquarters in Thiseio had concluded.
The support of our fellow Greek citizens in need is made possible with the support of the omogenia and the volunteers in Athens, who spare no monetary expense or effort to ensure that nothing is missing from the monthly distributions. Especially for the Easter distribution, the contribution from the community of Ss Nicholas Constantine & Helen from Roseland, NJ was crucial. All the funds for the Easter distribution were raised during a concert organized by the community in Roseland. Ensuring that all protocols and standards are met in this transparent charitable work is Ms. Maria Siourdi, director of the H.R.F’s partner organization ΕΛΕΣΘΥ, who along with the tireless volunteers Antonia Pantouvaki, Soula Belli, and Emy Spanou have contributed in their own way to the efforts of the omogenia, and have also brought new supporters to this monthly endeavor.
In attendance for the Easter distribution notably was Ms. Saki Kypraiou, the longtime secretary of the former Prime Minister of Greece Konstantinos Mitsotakis, Ms. Elli Thanogianni, president of the foundation Friends of the Meropeio Nursing Home, as well as Ms. Marina Goniotaki.
Despite the efforts of the omogenia through the H.R.F,. its partner organization, and its donors, and despite the upward economic trend in Greece, the effects of that growth are not yet overtly visible, and rates of both poverty and unemployment remain high. Along with the aforementioned groups doing their part to tackle this problem, the following companies also showed their support in this distribution and others: N. Konstantopoulou Group, Agrovim, Kamilaris AEBE – Ariston Butter, FrieslandCampina, Coca-Cola 3E, Karamolegos AEBE, Arla Foods, Food Bank, Barba Stathis, Tottis-Bingo, Barilla AE, Softex, and Mr. Dimitris Mouliatos, president of the 2nd Municipal Market of Athens, which offered free large quantities of potatoes and eggs for the beneficiaries.
There was also no shortage of Easter eggs and chocolates for the children of the beneficiaries, who also had clothes at their disposal complements of the H.R.F.’s partner organization. The group, along with their honorary president Ms. Kypraiou and head volunteer Ms. Siourdi, thank the omogenia, in particular the community from Ss Nicholas Constantine & Helen in Roseland, and individual sponsors who supported financially and materially the Easter distribution, but also those that support the work of the H.R.F. year round.
ABOUT HELLENIC RELIEF FOUNDATION
The Hellenic Relief Foundation Inc. is a non profit organization (501(c)3) and was founded in 2012, with the goal of raising funds in the United States to be used towards the purchase of food items, and other basic necessities for the underprivileged in Greece that have increased in numbers due to the current crisis. To date, around 950,000 dollars have been remitted, and with donations within Greece, as well as volunteered social and medicinal services, the true value of the aid is roughly 1.6 million dollars. The expenses of the HRF are covered by board members. For more information: www.hellenicrelief.org
